"A lot of students do live in the neighborhoods nearby, and they are biking to school because they're not at the age of driving yet," said Christian Lawver, a school technology specialist and staff member with the district's summer camp program. "If we can teach them the little things, I think it's going to be very important for them to use that."

The four-year-old Bicycle Alliance program conducts training throughout Minnesota and has trained about 600 educators and other community members.

"Biking and walking is not as popular as it used to be. ... Based on where schools are located now, busing [has become] more prominent, so this is an opportunity for us to get biking and walking education back into schools," Bicycle Alliance communications director Joanna Olson said.

Special education paraprofessional Tyler Green said middle school students in the district's program this summer will get daily practice riding bikes, and he plans to put his new teaching tips to use. Green said students who bike and walk to school can benefit from the exercise.

"Even if it's just for 10 minutes to school and 10 minutes back home each day, that's 20 more minutes than you get normally," Green said.

Gallery

An adjustable bike is sized to fit an adult at a training workshop at Moreland Arts & Health Sciences Magnet School.Evan Frost | MPR NewsView full galleryBicycle Alliance of Minnesota, or BikeMN, education coordinator CJ Lindor inspects an adjustable bike at an educator training. Educators learned bicycle and pedestrian safety and exercises to teach their students how to stay safe.Evan Frost | MPR NewsTeacher Ashley Martinson uses spray chalk to make a course for a BikeMN Walk! Bike! Fun! workshop at Moreland Arts & Health Sciences Magnet School.Evan Frost | MPR NewsMaterials used in the training sit in a bin before being set up in the parking lot of Moreland Arts & Health Sciences Magnet School.Evan Frost | MPR News